Construction on Princeton University’s major $330 million arts and transit project has rumbled to life with the demolition of a set of homes and commercial spaces, and more leveling is scheduled sometime in the next two weeks.

The demolitions make way for an arts campus and new buildings and amenities along University Place and Alexander Street, just south of McCarter Theatre. The project is expected to be completed by 2017.

Prior to being razed, the houses were offered free by the university to anyone willing to pay to have them moved to another location.

But given the difficulty, expense and logistical nightmare, there were no takers, despite more than 1,000 initial inquiries, said Kristin Appelget, Princeton University director of community and regional affairs.